"Why do I need an abstract?" seems to be the reoccuring question asked by everyone involved in the real estate industry. The answer? To protect your investment.

An abstract is a full and complete record of all matters filed of public record that affect the title to a particular piece of property. More or less, it can be viewed as a history of all matters related to the title of a particular piece of property. It is certified by a licensed and bonded abstractor to a particular date. The somewhat misleading part of the use of an abstract is that not all companies that close loans or issue title insurance policies are abstractors. An abstract company, such as Valley Land Title Company, is one that has been approved by the State of Oklahoma office of the State Auditor and Inspector and is regulated and bonded, with a complete title plant of the county records maintained by said abstract company.